Stage actors with little to no social media

[Elegance101]

Posted: 11/17/18 at 12:26am

Forgive me if this has already been discussed, but I couldn't find a thread on it.

I stumbled across a (semi) recent thread called "Social Media Friendly Actors" and it made me think about actors with little to no social media presence. We've been talking about how social media has affected fandoms and stage door, so is there something to be said for creating distance between oneself and the fans by limiting social media usage or does it do more harm than good to an actor's career? I think a lot of young actors are taught that social media is a must, but what are some examples of stage actors who successfully avoid social media? And what are your thoughts on stage actors on social media?

Updated On: 11/17/18 at 12:26 AM

[InTheBathroom1]

Posted: 11/17/18 at 12:30am

Jessie Mueller doesn’t use social media.

[WayTooBroadway]

Posted: 11/17/18 at 12:30am

Laurie Effing Metcalf. Because she’s Laurie Effing Metcalf.

[Sondheimite]

Posted: 11/17/18 at 12:35am

Most of the true greats.

Ever notices that 99.99 of artist who are truly top of their field don't bother with social media?  

[Elegance101]

Posted: 11/17/18 at 12:38am

Sondheimite said: "Most of the true greats.

Ever notices that 99.99 of artistwho aretruly top of their field don'tbother with social media?"

I'm wondering if we'll see a change in this analysis soon. I agree with this assessment, and the same goes with Hollywood actors, but will there come a time when people who don't partake in social media seem idiotic or like they can't get with it, or will there always be this esteem around remaining more private?

[Sondheimite]

Posted: 11/17/18 at 12:44am

Social Media has ruined the evolution of our society.

We are more concerned with dopplegangers we have created for ourselves than we are for living our actual biological life. 

I hope we don't see a change and the great's remain smart enough not to get sucked into playing their own doppelgangers online. 

[adamgreer]

Posted: 11/17/18 at 12:44am

Patti LuPone doesn’t. She recently made a joke about it and said “They’d probably kick me off!”

Elaine Stritch didn’t, either. Someone asked her about it in an interview and she very Stritchily responded, “I don’t have twitter or shmitter.”

I don’t think Angie does, either. Nor does Nathan Lane.

Like someone upthread said, the true greats don’t need to promote themselves the way other actors do (and I have no problem with social media and think it’s a great way to self promote).

[BroadwayConcierge]

Posted: 11/17/18 at 12:47am

Jonathan Groff.

[Danielle49]

Posted: 11/17/18 at 1:16am

Christian Borle. Boy, what a horrid fanatic mess it would be if he did.

[NOWaWarning]

Posted: 11/17/18 at 1:20am

I think I remember Kelli O’Hara saying in an interview that a show she was in, maybe Bridges, pressured her to get on Twitter

[Dave28282]

Posted: 11/17/18 at 5:53am

I agree, the truly great ones are not on social media. This makes them stand out from the crowd. This is why they are actually on a pedestal while most others are frantically swallowed by the big attention seeking swarm, trying to get noticed. It has to do with some kind of mystery, an unreachable status, an appeal to the imagination, which is essential for a true star.

I always compare it to the difference between the great Hollywood actors from the golden age and the current fleeting reality "stars" such as people from big brother or the Kardashians. Of course there was no social media back then, but the real difference lies in what is shown. The latter might be considered "hip" by some, but there is a group of people who take their craft seriously and do not want to be seen like that. They do not want to make their private life a fleeting reality show. They don't see posing as if their private life is perfect and collecting likes on the next great picture and gaining attention from that as an achievement, they see an actual project as an achievement and keep the rest secret. Ultimately, I think, they are taken much more seriously. 

Updated On: 11/17/18 at 05:53 AM

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 11/17/18 at 7:39am

NOWaWarning said: "I think I remember Kelli O’Hara saying in an interview that a show she was in, maybe Bridges, pressured her to get on Twitter "

The funny thing about that is that, when Christine Ebersole got off social media, I assumed it was because the War Paint producers told her she had to. 

[gypsy101]

Posted: 11/17/18 at 9:08am

adamgreer said: "Elaine Stritch didn’t, either. Someone asked her about it in an interview and she very Stritchily responded, “I don’t have twitter or shmitter.”"

Elaine did for a bit towards the end of her life, she rarely used it though.

I always wish Jon Groff had an insta or something.

some big stars that come to mind that don’t have twitter are Eddie Redmayne, Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence.

slightly OT but most big music stars use twitter very sparingly; beyonce has tweeted about 10 times in her life, adele also does it only once every few months.

[Wick3]

Posted: 11/17/18 at 9:33am

I'm more curious if there is any stage actor younger than 30 who has little or no social media. All the actors people have mentioned who do not have social media are over 30.

[ljay889]

Posted: 11/17/18 at 9:43am

The Elaine Stritch Twitter (which is still up) only had a few tweets, mainly to promote her documentary. The tweets were clearly not posted by her, and I believe she may have even confirmed in an interview that she didn’t do the tweeting.

[ljay889]

Posted: 11/17/18 at 9:43am

Double post 

Updated On: 11/17/18 at 09:43 AM

[adamgreer]

Posted: 11/17/18 at 9:45am

ljay889 said: "The Elaine Stritch Twitter (which is still up) only had a few tweets, mainly to promote her documentary. The tweets were clearly not posted by her, and I believe she may have even confirmed in an interview that she didn’t do the tweeting. "

Thanks, that’s what I had always thought. 

[Miles2Go2]

Posted: 11/17/18 at 10:00am

Bernadette is on Twitter, but I don’t believe she is on Instagram. I got excited after I posted some pics (the pre-show curtain, my playbill, ticket, etc.) after I saw Dolly again with her in it and I got a notifications that “Bernadette” had liked my pics and followed me. I about passed out until I realized it was an imposter account. Lol.

She appears to mainly use Twitter to promote performances and causes close to her heart.

Update: Oops, looks like she has joined IG now. Looks like she just joined in June. 

Updated On: 11/17/18 at 10:00 AM

[ghostlight2]

Posted: 11/17/18 at 10:26am

"I think a lot of young actors are taught that social media is a must, but what are some examples of stage actors who successfully avoid social media?"

"I think I remember Kelli O’Hara saying in an interview that a show she was in, maybe Bridges, pressured her to get on Twitter"

It is becoming common for actors to be pressured to promote shows on social media. Many, like Ms O'Hara, have to power to refuse. Many of the younger ones either don't or enjoy the attention.

[natashalost]

Posted: 11/17/18 at 10:40am

I don’t think Jordan Donica uses social media... he definitely doesn’t have Twitter or Instagram but he might use Facebook.

[InTheBathroom1]

Posted: 11/17/18 at 10:47am

I think what a lot of people need to understand is that having social media or not has nothing to do with how good an actor is. Many actor’s agents tell them they need to have a social media presence. Actors are selling a brand and a social media presence gives an actor a way to brand themselves. Not to mention it’s a great way to communicate with fans.

[Dave28282]

Posted: 11/17/18 at 10:49am

The weird thing is that being good at social media has nothing to do with being good at performing. It's 2 different talents. It is really a shame that companies run after these "influencers". The best performers can be bad at social media and the best social media people can be horrific at performing. I see these 2 worlds clash all the time (in real life, as well as in talent shows, where people are judged on actual talent versus social media following). 

I don't care if an actor is likeable. I want him to play a role extremely well. If the role goes to a much less talented but sympathetic person on social media, it does not benefit the product. It might boost ticket sales for a short period, but the product is less good. This way we are teaching audiences bad things. People really underestimate how fleeting social media is.

[JennH]

Posted: 11/17/18 at 11:25am

Elegance101 said: "Sondheimite said: "Most of the true greats.

Ever notices that 99.99 of artistwho aretruly top of their field don'tbother with social media?"

I'm wondering if we'll see a change in this analysis soon. I agree with this assessment, and the same goes with Hollywood actors, but will there come a time when people who don't partake in social media seem idiotic or like they can't get with it, or will there always be this esteem around remaining more private?"

This is an interesting and delicate thing, social media...I've found many, if not most, of the greats indeed don't have one, BUT a good many of them were already at the top anyway because they're of an older generation, when the social media revolution came a-crashing around us all. Some gave in and got some social medias of course. While I 1000% agree, having a social media presence has nothing whatsoever to do with being an artist, sadly the lines have become VERY blurred. It's how people have gotten jobs and when 'time is money" in this business, whoever has an Internet presence and materials to view, it's them who gets the job over someone who has no presence, no materials easily found, and must be brought in, in person which takes time and effort when push come to shove. Actors are always told to brand themselves, therefore an Internet presence has become part of that, therefore almost necessary for career success. It's how civilization has evolved and still continues to constantly evolve and in this case, not for the better. I do agree that they are two 180 degree different skills that have next to nothing to do with each other, but as it's been said, catch up or be left behind...I wish it weren't so, but human civilization evolves at and even faster pace than before. It's like anyone who doesn't have a computer or email. Yes these people still exist in 2018 believe or not, and at some point they'll go through a MAJOR case of Future Shock and discover that they won't be able to function with society at large. Fascinating yet terrifying. 

 

[Elegance101]

Posted: 11/17/18 at 12:24pm

Great points, everyone! Thanks for talking through this with me, I think it’s fascinating.

I also think about the difference between play actors and musical actors. Social media plays a huge role in musical theatre (Be More Chill comes to mind), but it is far less important to the culture of straight plays, and therefore, their actors. Musical performers in BFA programs are being taught about having social media and why it’s so important (I think, I’m a good few years out of college, so correct me if I’m wrong!), and you can see this mindset in action across the casts of shows like Mean Girls or Be More Chill. But even younger straight play actors don’t use social media in the same way.

I know for a fact casting directors have started to care about followers and fans, which to me is upsetting. But is this what we have to get used to?

[Bwayfan292]

Posted: 11/17/18 at 12:25pm

For me at least, it seems the people thatbare very active on social media, don’t have that many broadway credits. The people who barley post are the ones with like 6-9 shows under their belts.